Agenda and decisions

To receive Apologies for Absence from Members.

Members are requested to inform Democratic Services of any changes in their Register of Members’ Financial and Other Interests form.

To authorise the Chair to sign the Minutes of the meeting held on the 5 October 2023 as a correct record.

To receive any announcements from the Chair.

To receive any announcements from the Leader and Cabinet.

To receive any announcements from the Head of Paid Service.

To answer any questions asked by the public.

The deadline for receipt of public questions is noon on Friday 24 November.

The Council’s scheme for public speaking at remote meetings may be inspected here:

Public Questions at Remote Meetings 

Council

Agreed           to adopt the revised Statement of Licensing Policy under the Licensing Act 2005 for a period of up to five years from 31 January 2024.

Council 

Agreed          to

A)       Acknowledge the 2022/23 general fund revenue outturn position and the net underspend (after income from Taxation and Government Grants) in the year of £1.099 million as summarised in Appendix A, and the explanations provided for the variances compared to the revised 2022/23 revenue budget;

B)       Acknowledge the consequent increase in the General Fund as at 31 March 2023 of £3.258m to around £18.4m;

C)       Approve the carry forwards of £0.316 million in relation to General Fund revenue projects which were not undertaken during the year as planned.

D)       In relation to the Capital Programme:

(i)       Note the 2022/23 capital outturn of £15.520 million.

(ii)      Acknowledge the performance achieved in relation to the Capital Programme schemes substantially completed in 2022/2023, summarised in Appendix B.

(iii)     Approve the carry forwards of £3.720 million in relation to General Fund capital projects due mainly to slippage.

(iv)    To note that a full review of the Capital Programme will be submitted to Cabinet at its December 2023 meeting to include re-phasing of the existing programme and new Capital bids for the next budget cycle.

Council  

Agreed          to

A)       Acknowledge the 2022/23 revenue outturn position and the net underspend in the year of £0.473 million, and the explanations provided for the variances compared to the revised 2022/23 revenue budget;

B)       Acknowledge the overall decrease in the Housing Revenue Account balance as at 31 March 2023 to £3.878 million;

C)       In relation to the Capital Programme:

(i) Note the 2022/23 capital outturn of £21.405 million;

(ii) Acknowledge the performance achieved in relation to the Capital Programme schemes substantially completed in 2022/2023, summarised in Appendix A.

(iii) Approve the carry forward amounts of £3.034 million to 2023/24 in relation to HRA housebuilding during 2022/23, due to slippage.

Council  

Agreed          to

A)           Acknowledge the projected changes in service spending and the overall resources available to the Council over the medium term to 2028/2029.

B)           Adopt the refreshed Medium Term Financial Strategy at Appendix A and updated financial forecast at Appendix B.

Council

Agreed          to appoint Nicky Blanning to the South Cambridgeshire District Council Independent Remuneration Panel for a three-year term of office, expiring on 30 November 2026.

Attached are the decision summaries from the following Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority meetings:

·         Skills and Employment Committee on 4 September

·         Audit and Governance Committee on 8 September

·         Environment and Sustainable Communities Committee on 11 September

·         Transport and Infrastructure Committee on 13 September

·         Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 18 September

·         Combined Authority Board on 20 September

·         Human Resources Committee on 27 September

To receive a decision summary from the Greater Cambridge Partnership Executive Board meeting on 28 September 2023.

Council is asked to:

(i)        Note any changes in roles, membership or substitutes

(ii)       Note, and, where required, endorse any changes to Outside Bodies appointments; and

(iii)      Note any executive appointments.

A period of 30 minutes will be allocated for this item to include those questions where notice has been provided (as set out on the agenda below) and questions which may be asked without notice.

Members wishing to ask a question without notice should indicate this intention to the Interim Democratic Services Team Manager prior to the commencement of the item.  Members’ names will be drawn at random by the Chairman until there are no further questions or until the expiration of the time period. 

At the previous meeting of the Council the Leader referenced Cambridgeshire’s relative lack of mature trees. How will the unnecessary cutting down of Coton Orchard make that situation better and is the cutting down of mature woodland a price worth paying in order to shave just 2 minutes from the journey time compared to the on-road options.

Does the Leader appreciate that when changes are made to independent reports at the request of this Council, residents and councillors lose faith in the independence of all information being put in front of us?

Does the Leader understand why so many people are disheartened by Cabinet’s response to the relocation of the Wastewater Treatment Plant to Honey Hill?

Previously, the Leader has written a letter of support for East West Rail. Does the Leader believe that the current proposed route is acceptable for the residents of South Cambridgeshire

Can the Leader assure us this Council will take appropriate action to address South Cambridgeshire residents’ concerns about noise pollution in the district given the expansion of Luton Airport?

Does the Leader and the administration still believe that the C2C busway plans should proceed?

Is the Leader confident that the budget gap for CSET will be found – or does the Leader believe it is time to think about alternative proposals?

A period of 30 minutes will be allowed for each Motion to be moved, seconded and debated, including dealing with any amendments. At the expiry of the 30 minute period, debate shall cease immediately, the mover of the original Motion, or if the original Motion has been amended, the mover of that amendment now forming part of the substantive motion, will have the right of reply before it is put to the vote.

This Council is opposed to any form of road charging in Cambridgeshire.

Council Rejected this motion.

To note the Chair’s engagements since the last Council meeting:

8 October 2023       Justice Service, The High Sheriff of Cambridge at Peterborough Cathedral

10 October 2023     BBSRC Crop Diversity Event hosted by NIAB at Histon

28 October 2023     Springstead Village Opening Launch, Cherry Hinton

10 November 2023501^st Wing Commander, Colonel Landon Phillips Veterans Day Ceremony, Madingley American Cemetery